graduation maya angelou essay

• Houston Community College
• Eagle Online

• Emily Klotz
• English Composition I - Spring 2022 (2nd start - online) (ENGL 1301)
• Course Readings

"Graduation" - Maya Angelou

To print or download this file, click the link below:

Sample details

Related topics.

• College Board
• College Life
• Academic style guides
• Student loan
• Academic dishonesty
• Standardized test
• Should college athletes b...
• College Experience
• Study Abroad Scholarship
• Is college worth it
• Should College be Free
• Reasons To Go To College
• College Tuition
• Online Education
• Internship Experience
• Why I Need A Scholarship
• Why I Deserve This Schola...

An Analysis of the Story Graduation by Maya Angelou

Anticipation.

The story “Graduation” by Maya Angelou explores the experience of a young black girl who eagerly awaits her graduation day, only to have her dreams overshadowed by a speech given by Mr. Donleavy, a white man, in which he puts down her race. However, the valedictorian, Henry Reed, later offers words of encouragement that uplift the entire audience and make them feel empowered. Throughout the story, Maya Angelou effectively uses tone as a key literary element.

In this story, the speaker is a young black girl who initially expresses pride and self-confidence. She believes that even at twelve years old and just graduating from eighth grade, she will excel in fine hand sewing. Her happiness is evident when she mentions her hard work has led to being among the top students and one of the first called during graduation.

ready to help you now

Without paying upfront

In the middle of the narrative, the girl expresses her anger and disappointment about her graduation. As mentioned earlier, during the graduation ceremony, Mr. Donleavy’s speech focused on the accomplishments of white students. He stated that “…the white kids were going to have a chance to become Galileo’s and Madame Curies and Edison’s and Gauguins …” This statement surprised the young girl and made her believe that her graduation had lost its importance. She felt that Donleavy had revealed their lack of achievements. This sentence effectively captures her frustration and anger. However, as we approach the end of the story, there is a change in the girl’s emotions as she starts feeling proud once again about herself and her race.

During her graduation, the young girl’s class valedictorian, Henry Reed, recited a poem that deeply resonated with her. She specifically remembered Patrick Henry’s powerful words, which made her feel empowered and frightened at the same time. Regarding her future path, she proclaimed, “Give me freedom or give me death…”. This statement represented her pride in being an African American and graduating alongside her peers in 1940. Despite negative remarks from Mr. Donleavy, she rejoiced in her successes and embraced the inspiring words of Henry Reed. Her sense of pride originated from both her racial identity and academic achievements.

In summary, the story “Graduation” was fascinating as it effectively showcases the literary element of tone. From my perspective, the story conveys the message that we should embrace our identity, actions, and roots with pride. Rather than focusing on others’ opinions of us, it is more important to prioritize our own thoughts and goals.

Cite this page

https://graduateway.com/an-analysis-of-the-story-graduation-by-maya-angelou/

You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers

• Why is College Important

Check more samples on your topics

Pathos and ethos in graduation, a short story by maya angelou.

Angelou’s "story," Graduation, appeals to both pathos and ethos. Pathos taps into emotions like pity or sadness, while ethos appeals to ethical principles. At the beginning of Angelou’s story, she vividly describes the excitement of her graduation, with every detail contributing to the overall sentiment. For instance, she recounts how her dress was meticulously crafted

“Graduation” by Maya Angelou Critique Analysis

Maya Angelou

D Critique “Graduation” was written by Maya Angelou in 1969. Angelou was born in Missouri, but after her parents divorced, she was sent to live with her grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. While in Arkansas, Angelou attended the Lafayette County Training School. The school is the setting for her essay “Graduation. ” Angelou graduated from eighth

Maya Angelou “The Graduation” and Langston Hughes “One Friday Morning” Analysis

This paper will compare and contrast both the stories and trace out similarities and differences between the two. Basically, both the stories are in reminiscent mood and bear the nostalgic touches with the connotation of ethnic disparity issue. In “The Graduation”, Maya Angelou is remembering back to her high school graduation. She recalls the wonder she

Book I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Short Story

Book Review

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

In the book I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, there are several women who play very important roles in Marguerite Johnson’s life and development. Marguerite had three women in her life that educated and provided her with useful skills, information, security, religion and love. Momma, Mrs. Flowers, and Ma’ Dear are

‘A Woman’s Work’ By Dorothy Nimmo ‘Woman Work’ by Maya Angelou Analysis

Both poems that we were asked to look at focus on the roles of women and their work.However, the subjects of each poem are very different, and both authors are writing their poem from different perspectives that border completely different cultures. Even though both the poems are about the roles of women, the idea of

Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou Poem Analysis

In her autobiography, "Why the Caged Bird Sings," Maya Angelou emphasizes the significance of her religious background and church upbringing in her life and poetry. According to Angelou, her relationship with Jesus became essential when she was feeling unhappy in her marriage, as she found solace and happiness in Him (page 124). Additionally, she expresses

Maya Angelou and Alice Walker

Alice Walker

Contemporary literature has two of the most outstanding authors that have ever lived.  African – American authors Maya Angelou and Alice Walker undeniably epitomizes a woman of strength and substance.             Both women present a noteworthy resemblance in the lives they lead.  Angelou and Walker narrate to their readers the kind of life they came to

Maya Angelou – Yet to be United States Sample

United States

When Dr. Maya Angelou read her verse form. “On the Pulse of Morning. ” written particularly for President Bill Clinton’s startup in 1993. the ‘best kept secret in literary circles’ was thoughtfully revealed to the whole universe. She is arguably the most influential adult female of her race. but there is more to Maya Angelou

Grandmother’s Victory by Maya Angelou

Grandmother's Victory was written by Maya Angelou. This story was about Maya Angelou as a young girl who lived in the state of Arkansas with her grandmother, whom she called "Mama", in the 1940's. Maya's grandmother was a very clean God fearing woman. She taught her grandchildren to be clean, religious, respectful, and God fearing

Hi, my name is Amy 👋

In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Literature Literature Analysis

Literary Analysis of Maya Angelou's Essay "Graduation"

Table of contents

“graduation”: literary analysis.

• Angelou, M. (1969). I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House.
• Angelou, M. (1986). All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes. Random House.
• Ashmore, R. D. & Del Boca, F. K. (1979). Conceptual approaches to stereotypes and stereotyping. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (Vol. 12, pp. 1-44). Academic Press.
• Festinger, L. (1954). A theory of social comparison processes. Human Relations, 7, 117-140.
• Goffman, E. (1959). The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. Doubleday.
• Moscovici, S. (1985). Social influence and conformity. In G. Lindzey & E. Aronson (Eds.), The Handbook of Social Psychology (3rd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 347-412). Random House.
• Tajfel, H. & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations (pp. 33-47). Brooks/Cole.

*minimum deadline

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below

• The Highwayman
• Olaudah Equiano
• Catcher in The Rye
• A Separate Peace
• East of Eden

Related Essays

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

• Maya Angelou Graduation Essay

Maya Angelou’s “The Graduation” is a powerful poem about the experience of black people in America. It addresses the issue of racism and discrimination faced by African Americans, and highlights the strength and resilience of the black community. The poem is an inspiration to all who have faced adversity, and a reminder that we can overcome anything if we stand together.

As Maya Angelou and other children attending grammar school know, graduation is an essential time in everyone’s life. It signals a move to something bigger and better, where you can put your knowledge to use to reach your dreams.

She was one of the few African American students in her class. Despite the racism she and other black people faced, Maya Angelou was determined to graduate and make something of herself.

Maya Angelou’s “The Graduation” is a story about overcoming adversity and succeeding against all odds. Maya Angelou was raised in the racially segregated South during the 1930s and 1940s. She experienced firsthand the racism that black people faced on a daily basis. But she didn’t let that stop her from achieving her goals.

In “The Graduation,” Maya Angelou tells the story of her graduation from eighth grade. She describes how excited she and her classmates were to be moving on to high school. But she also describes the racism that they faced from their white classmates and teachers.

Despite the odds, Maya Angelou graduated from high school and went on to have a successful career as a writer, poet, and civil rights activist. She is an inspiration to all who face adversity in their lives. Her story is one of hope and determination. No matter what obstacles you face in life, remember that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. Just like Maya Angelou.

The story Graduation has ethos from Lili’s perspective because, like everyone else standing on the stage or in the auditorium when Mr. Edward Donleavy casually denigrated everything the pupils had worked so hard to accomplish, she shared the same sentiments and feelings as Lili did.

Angelou’s use of first person also aids in creating pathos as the reader experiences what she went through.

Being one of the only black students in her class, and with a father who was not around, Angelou had to fend for herself a lot. She had to deal with things that other kids didn’t have to, like having enough money for food or getting good grades so she could graduate. Even though she was one of the valedictorians, she still didn’t feel like she deserved it because she was “just a Negro.” Mr. Donleavy’s words just made her feel even worse about herself.

The way Angelou responds to Mr. Donleavy’s racism shows her character to be intelligent and strong. She does not let his words get to her and instead uses them as motivation to prove him wrong. When she gives her graduation speech, she shows everyone that she is just as good as they are, if not better.

Angelou’s story is a great example of how someone can overcome racism and achieve success. It is inspiring and shows that no matter what people say or do, you can still reach your goals.

This is the story of a woman who has overcome every obstacle in her life to reach this day, and through her narrative, learned, and personal figurative, and descriptive writing, she has been able to pass on both the ill feelings and warm sentiments from Mr. Donleavy’s speech to that of Henry Reed.

Mr. Donleavy’s speech is one that degrades the black people, and African Americans especially. He talks about how they are not to be trusted and how they are nothing more than animals. Henry Reed, on the other hand, speaks kindly of the black people and states how they have made many advances in their fight for equality. Through her writing, Maya Angelou was able to show both the good and bad sides of that day, which helped give readers a more clear understanding of what it was like to be a black person during that time period.

Angelou excels at evoking emotions and empathy in her readers. She emphasizes her sense of being wronged by relating to them and broadcasting her feelings for everyone to see. When she’s talking about the people around her getting excited and nervous, she’s describing what it’s like when you’re about to graduate.

It is a time of both great hope and great fear. We all want to succeed, but we are also afraid of what lies ahead.

She also does an excellent job of capturing the racism that was prevalent in America at the time. She talks about how the black people in her town were treated like second-class citizens. They were not given the same opportunities as white people, and they were constantly reminded of their place in society. This is something that many people can relate to, even if they have not experienced it themselves. Racism is still a problem today, and Angelou’s words ring just as true now as they did then.

“The youngsters in Stamps shook visibly with eagerness…The entire young population had fallen sick with the graduation fever.” (22). This is how the story begins. What comes to mind as soon as you hear it? The word “graduation.” Your own graduation, whether it occurred in the past or will take place in the future. This helps her establish a link with her audience from the start, before they know anything about the tale’s backdrop or who she is.

It also gives the reader a sense of what the story will be about. Angelou then goes on to describe her town and how poor it was. She states, “There were no paved sidewalks, no city hall, no library, no churches with steeples” (22). This quote is important because it helps set the scene for the reader and allows them to better understand the setting in which Angelou grew up. It also paints a picture of just how poor her town was.

She continues by describing her family and their living conditions. She writes, “We lived in one room…my brother Bailey and I slept in homemade beds…Momma had built us a bookcase out of orange crates…” (22). This quote is important because it provides more insight into Angelou’s childhood and her family’s poverty. It also helps the reader understand the type of family she came from and how they interacted with each other.

In the next few paragraphs, Angelou goes on to describe her graduation day. She writes about how excited she was and how she felt like a princess. She states, “I wanted to wear my new dress and shoes…I wanted everyone in town to see me…I would be the only eighth grader graduating in a real high school graduation ceremony” (22-23). This quote is important because it shows how proud she was of her accomplishment. It also helps the reader understand how significant this event was for her.

After graduation, Angelou’s family throws her a party. However, she is quickly brought back down to reality when her father tells her that she can’t go to high school in San Francisco like she had planned. He tells her that she has to stay in Stamps and help take care of her younger brother.

More Essays

• Maya Angelou Essay
• To A Man Maya Angelou
• These Yet To Be United States By Maya Angelou
• Maya Angelou Biography Essay
• Maya Angelou: Motivation In The Classroom Essay
• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Essay
• Essay about Maya Angelous Literary Analysis
• Still I Rise Essay

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Graduation Poem Maya Angelou

“Graduation” is a powerful poem that speaks to the importance of Graduation in our lives. Maya Angelou’s words are inspiring and remind us that Graduation is a time to celebrate our achievements and look forward to the future with hope.

Angelou uses a number of literary devices to convey the speaker’s journey, including metaphors, similes, and Personification.

The speaker begins by looking back on her life up to this point. She has gone through “eight years trying to be a girl” (Angelou, 1). She has been taught how to be a lady, how to behave in public, and how to suppress her natural tendencies. She has been told that she needs to be quiet and not speak out. Graduation is a turning point for her because it marks the end of her childhood.

To export a reference to this essay please select a referencing style below:

Related essays:

24/7 writing help on your phone

To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”

Graduation by Maya Angelou Analysis

Save to my list

Remove from my list

• Black Codes - History.com
• Civil Rights Movement - Wikipedia
• Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou | Poetry Foundation
• Racial segregation in the United States - Wikipedia

Graduation by Maya Angelou Analysis. (2020, Sep 02). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/graduation-by-maya-angelou-analysis-essay

"Graduation by Maya Angelou Analysis." StudyMoose , 2 Sep 2020, https://studymoose.com/graduation-by-maya-angelou-analysis-essay

StudyMoose. (2020). Graduation by Maya Angelou Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/graduation-by-maya-angelou-analysis-essay [Accessed: 28 Aug. 2024]

"Graduation by Maya Angelou Analysis." StudyMoose, Sep 02, 2020. Accessed August 28, 2024. https://studymoose.com/graduation-by-maya-angelou-analysis-essay

"Graduation by Maya Angelou Analysis," StudyMoose , 02-Sep-2020. [Online]. Available: https://studymoose.com/graduation-by-maya-angelou-analysis-essay. [Accessed: 28-Aug-2024]

StudyMoose. (2020). Graduation by Maya Angelou Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/graduation-by-maya-angelou-analysis-essay [Accessed: 28-Aug-2024]

• Maya Angelou `The Graduation` Pages: 5 (1486 words)
• Exploring Tone in "Graduation" by Maya Angelou Pages: 2 (502 words)
• Maya Angelou's "Gather Together in Maya's Name" Pages: 4 (1125 words)
• Phenomenal Woman: Maya Angelou's Poem Analysis Pages: 2 (405 words)
• An Analysis of Self-Love and Pride in Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou Pages: 3 (848 words)
• Maya Angelou's Triumph: A Poetic Analysis of 'Still I Rise' Pages: 2 (550 words)
• I Know Why A Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou: Poem Analysis Pages: 3 (663 words)
• Feminist Narratives in Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman" Pages: 4 (1140 words)
• “Champion of the World" by Maya Angelou Pages: 3 (671 words)
• "These Yet to be United States" by Maya Angelou Pages: 3 (773 words)

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Maya Angelou — Literary Analysis of Maya Angelou’s “Graduation”

Literary Analysis of Maya Angelou's "Graduation"

• Categories: Maya Angelou

About this sample

Words: 722 |

Published: Aug 1, 2024

Words: 722 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The significance of the setting, characterization and identity, the symbolism of the "white dress", bibliography.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 565 words

1 pages / 582 words

5 pages / 2450 words

3 pages / 1428 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou’s poem "Woman Work" is a profound and evocative piece that explores the multifaceted nature of a woman's labor. The poem, rich in both imagery and emotion, delves into the physical and emotional demands placed upon [...]

Maya Angelou was a prominent figure in American literature and civil rights activism. Throughout her life, she achieved numerous accomplishments that have left a lasting impact on society. From her groundbreaking autobiographies [...]

Mrs. Flowers by Maya Angelou is a compelling piece of literature that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the transformative power of mentorship. The story is set in the segregated South of the 1930s and is [...]

Maya Angelou, a name synonymous with literary brilliance, social activism, and artistic versatility, stands as a monumental figure in American cultural and intellectual history. Her life, marked by both profound challenges and [...]

Maya was sent from her father in California to her grandmother in Stamps when she was three years old, with her four-year-old brother Bailey. She lived in the back of the store which ran by her grandmother and uncle. The store [...]

One cannot discuss Maya Angelou’s “On the Pulse of Morning” without providing proper background concerning the context within which it came to be. The first emergence of the poem came in January of 1993 at Bill Clinton’s initial [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free